A vote on a new travel policy for members of the Kansas State Board of Education produced an odd and somewhat inscrutable split on the controversial board.

The policy before the board on Wednesday would have prohibited board members from using tax dollars to pay for out-of-state travel after they are defeated in an election. The issue was raised in response to travel scheduled by Board Member Connie Morris after she was defeated in this year’s August primary. Although she knew she would be going off the board in a few months, Morris planned two trips at taxpayer expense, including a one-week trip to Washington, D.C., just days before she leaves office.

Although a number of board members said at the time that they thought Morris’ travel plans were inappropriate and the board’s travel policy should be re-examined, the policy that went before the board this week failed on a tie vote of 5-5. What was interesting about the vote was how the board split and the reasons they gave for their votes.

Voting for the new policy were Morris herself and three other members of the board’s conservative majority. Joining them was Bill Wagnon, who represents much of Lawrence and has been a vocal critic of Morris and the conservatives. Voting against the new policy were the other three moderate board members and two conservative members.

During the discussion of the policy Morris said she agreed with the proposed restrictions although she had no intention of voluntarily abiding by them herself. Her conservative colleagues had generally contended there was nothing wrong with Morris’ travel plans but voted not to allow future members to take similar trips. Go figure.

The reasons given by some moderate board members for voting against the proposal also were puzzling. For instance, Janet Waugh said she voted against the more restrictive travel policy because she didn’t think it was fair to apply the restrictions to future boards but not to Morris. She also said it usually is bad policy to develop rules because of one person and that the new board should review the travel policy after it is seated in January.

Maybe it makes sense to delay action on this policy, but it seems odd that board members who so vocally objected to Morris’ travel plans a few months ago were unwilling either to deny those plans or approve a new policy when it was offered.

Wagnon’s stand seems the most consistent of the group. Although he voted in September to approve Morris’ travel, he was critical of the action and backed that criticism up this week by supporting a change in the policy.

The board’s deadlock on the travel restrictions is curious and seems to support lingering questions about the professionalism and conduct of the state school board. Kansans can only hope those questions are swept out the door when the new board is seated in January.